Your Fantasy Football Start’em Sit’em and Sleepers for Week 8

By: FantasyFootballGoat.com

We are almost at the midpoint of the NFL season and soon it will be fantasy playoff time. This is the point in your season where you can make your move. A few of the player I have listed below may or may not give you a shot at doing just that.

Real quick, here’s a little reminder of how I have things set up. I list two players who I think deserve a start and two players that I think should ride the pine. Also, I have another section that will deal with some of the gray area associated with some players.

This section is called Sleepers: Don’t be surprised if. It will deal with players who, regardless of stature, will perform better or worse than expected. Rather than tell you that you should start or sit these players - since I do not know every circumstance surrounding your team in particular - I am just offering up a little food for thought for those of you who have tough decisions to make this weekend. So lets get to it.

Start’em if you got’em

Marshawn Lynch RB (BUF) - Doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see that the Jets are having trouble stopping anyone. Add to that the facts that Lynch has held his own against much stiffer competition; four TD’s in six games including one each against the Ravens and Patriots. Dick Jauron has this team playing with heart and that translates into success for Lynch. Look for 100+ and 2 td’s for the rookie.

Final stats: 21 carries for 80 yards, O td’s and 1 catch for 7 yards.
Final thoughts: Hard to believe there was hardly any scoring in this game with two of the NFL’s worst defenses.

Kevin Walters WR (HOU) - At a glance it looks like an easy day for the San Diego defense but there are few things to consider. First, San Diego struggles against the pass (25th in the league) and they are taking on a team that excels in that department (Houston is 5th in passing offense). Second, it is very possible that the Texans could find themselves playing catch-up all game which is always a recipe for fantasy receiver success. Even if Schaub doesn’t play look for Walter to stay hot with 7 catches for 90 yards and a TD.

Final stats: 7 catches for 77 yards and zero TD’s.
Final thoughts: This game went in the tank fast for the Texans. The only touchdown for Houston in this game went to some guy name Dreesen.

Sit’em if you got’em

Lamont Jordan RB (OAK) - Looks like the party is over for Lamont. Not only is he facing the top rushing unit this week in Tennessee but there are just too many other guys to share carries with. Unless you have no other choice, sit him down this week. He’ll be lucky to get 50 yards and the chances of him scoring a touchdown are slim at best.

Final stats: 12 carries for 16 yards and 0 td’s.
Final thoughts: Things seem to be getting worse each week for Jordan. Meanwhile. Meanwhile, Fargas is getting as much work and having more success. Also, where the hell is Rhodes?

Cedric Benson RB (CHI) - Lions defense or don’t you get suckered into thinking this is the week for Benson. Last time he faced the Lions he only had 50 yards. Add to that the fact that he’s only had one rushing attempt per game in the redzone in three out of the last four weeks. Maybe the Bears coaching staff is trying to tell us something. Not good. I’ll give him another 50 yards and no score.

Final stats: 13 carries for 50 yards, 2 receptions for 10 yards and 0 TD’s
Final thoughts: Bullseye!

Sleepers: Don’t be surprised if…

Jon Kitna QB (DET) - has another “efficient” outing. Last week he only threw the ball 20 times. With Kevin Jones and TJ Duckett back and healthy, the Lions showed that not only weren’t they afraid to run it but they could do it successfully. Even Mike Martz made a comment about trying to minimize pass attempts to keep Kitna healthy. Defenses knew they were passing and were teeing off on Kitna who had been sacked a league leading 25 times going into last weeks game. I am expecting around 200 yards and one, maybe two, touchdowns.

Final stats: 268 yards and 0 TD’s and 1 carry for -1 yard (figured you would want to know).
Final thoughts: Believe it or not, with 10 games left on the schedule, the Lions are half way to Kitna’s prediction of 10 or more wins.

Marc Bulger QB (STL) looks like his old self again this week when the Browns are in town. Not only does he get Stephen Jackson back but, bad o-line or not, the Browns can’t get to the quarterback anyway. They have just six sacks in six games. This has shootout written all over it. Bulger goes for 300+ and 2+ touchdowns.

Final stats: 310 yards, a TD and 1 int.
Final thoughts: They came out on fire, then Stephen Jackson hurts his back and left the game for good. Then Bulger missed a series and that seemed to suck the momentum right out of them.

As always, that is not all my friend. There are a few other stops you should make before finalizing your starting lineup.

First, make sure you stop by and see how the Fantasy Football Librarian can help you. Every week she posts all of the start’em sit’em articles, player ranking posts and waiver wire lists that she can find so that you don’t have to hunt for them yourself. Check her out and tell her the Goat says hi.

Second, you can get more in-depth NFL player projections throughout the week by checking out the Bruno Boys website over on MVN.com.

Third, be on the lookout for the weekly fantasy football start’em sit’em podcast I co-host with Marc Caviglia.

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Corey Koehler is a blogger, podcaster and NFL fantasy football freak. He thanks you for reading his article and invites you to stop by and check out his Fantasy Football Blog at FantasyFootballGoat.com. There you will find more of the valuable NFL and fantasy football information seen here. Also, make sure you don't miss another post by Corey - or his team of fantasy geniuses - by subscribing to his all of his content for the very low price of FREE. You can subscribe to The Fantasy Football Goat by email and have this stuff in your inbox seconds after I post it or you can subscribe in your feed reader or on your home page. Either way you get the info fast and easy. Don't understand this whole subscribing thing? Check out this short video on RSS. See you at the top!

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